India has already won the three-match ODI series against West Indies with a 2-0 lead after two matches. The final match is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. With the series secured, India captain Shubman Gill will have the option to either rest key players or field a full-strength XI to complete a clean sweep.
Dinesh Karthik has weighed in on the likely composition of India's squad for the third ODI, highlighting the impact of recent injuries on team selection. According to Karthik, forced changes are inevitable given the fitness concerns surrounding certain players in the squad.
"First of all, there could be a forced change, Naman Dhir had an injury, so we don't know if he is going to be fit. I won't be surprised if one of the pacers gives way for Siraj to come in and play a game. Maybe Nitish Kumar Reddy gets back into the squad. Look, you can play whom you want, you've won the series," Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
"Whether you want to fit in Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel for a game, or you can be just ruthless and win the series 3-0 and play the best possible XI. It's completely up to them. I wouldn't be surprised if there are 1-2 changes," he added.
Naman Dhir's ankle injury forces squad rethink
Naman Dhir, who made his ODI debut in the first match of the series, suffered an ankle injury during the second ODI. The injury occurred when Dhir twisted his left ankle twice within a few seconds during the first ball of the 36th over while bowling. His fitness status for the third match remained uncertain as of October 1.
Prasidh Krishna ruled out, Anshul Kamboj drafted in
Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna was ruled out of the third ODI after sustaining a left hamstring injury during the second match in Guwahati. Anshul Kamboj was picked as Krishna's replacement and joined the Indian squad in Chandigarh. The availability of these players will directly influence the final XI that takes the field on Saturday.
Karthik's assessment suggested India had multiple options for squad rotation after their series win. The team could choose to introduce players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel for match experience, or maintain their winning combination to secure a 3-0 series victory. The final decision rests with captain Shubman Gill and the team management.
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